Anne Atkinson Wilburn

Thankful though we are, to have recently celebrated her 90th birthday with her, we mourn the passing of Anne A. Wilburn, our Mother, Grandmother and Great Grandmother. She passed away peacefully on August 5 th at her home on Lake Chatuge, in Hiawassee, GA, with her two grown children at her side. While our hearts ached to see her go, we take comfort in the knowledge that she was looking forward to reuniting with her husband Sam, who passed away last year, in time for her 69th anniversary on August 12th .

Anne was born at home in Greenville, GA on June 20, 1934, to John P Atkinson VI and Sara Letson Atkinson. She, along with her older brother Ros, and her younger sister Georgia, grew up in Greenville, where their father was President of the Greenville Banking Company, served as Mayor, and owned a building supply, a furniture store and several small farms. At Greenville High she excelled as a student, and her loving parents raised her to be thoughtful and well refined in her thinking and deportment. Much of life, and the sense of community in Greenville, revolved around the church, and the Atkinson family was very active at the Greenville Methodist Church.

While in high school she met the love of her life, Sam Wilburn Jr, from neighboring Woodbury, GA. They dated in high school and through college. Anne graduated from Agnes Scott College in Atlanta, where she was an Honor Roll student with majors in history and political science. She was also Secretary of the Blackfriars student theater troupe and a member of the Cotillion Club. Sam graduated from Mercer in Macon where he was an English and economics major, an officer of Kappa Alpha fraternity, command officer of the National Society of Pershing Rifles and a member of the Scabbard and Blade Society. After college, she and Sam were married, at the Greenville Methodist Church, in August of 1955, by the President of Agnes Scott College.

Following their marriage, Sam enlisted in the Army, as a 2nd Lieutenant, and Anne taught 3rd grade. In 1957 their son Sam Wilburn III was born on the base in Petersburg, VA. A few months later their young family left for a two-year Army deployment in Ludwigsburg, Germany. There they made lifelong memories traveling Europe extensively during Sam’s leaves, often in Sam’s convertible Triumph sports car. 

After Sam’s tour of duty ended, they moved to Atlanta, where Sam took a job in banking. Once in Atlanta, they welcomed their daughter, Cynthia, in 1960. For the next twenty years Anne wholly committed herself to raising their children, supporting her husband in his career, taking on various responsibilities at the newly launched Mt. Vernon Baptist Church of Sandy Springs, and pursuing her love of gardening. Anne was very active in her neighborhood “Trowel & Error Garden Club,” and won their prestigious “Yard of the Month” award many times throughout the years. She made many lifelong friends in these circles. She immensely enjoyed tending her flower beds, creating cut flower arrangements and teaching her children how to plant and care for vegetable gardens. And somehow, she seemed to do all of this without ever having a hair out of place or breaking a well-manicured nail.

She not only always looked well put together, but was also very gracious, generous, even-tempered and memorably lovely to be around for family, friends and strangers alike.

 After their children left for college, Anne and Sam, for many years, enjoyed frequent trips to destinations all around the globe. Then, by the time they started having grandchildren, they had built their home on Lake Chatuge that served as base camp for many happy summers spent making wonderful memories with their children and grandchildren at the lake. Eventually Anne and Sam moved to Hiawassee full time, and became active members of McConnell Baptist Church, and made many good friends there.

Anne deeply loved all her family, and extended family, and throughout her life endeavored to consistently convey that love through deeds, cards, letters and phone calls. Her’s was a life of devotion to her faith, family and friends.

 Anne is survived by son Sam Wilburn III (Annie Bass), daughter Cynthia Hendon (Charlie), grandchildren, Lindsay Sutcliffe (Mike), Yates Wilburn (Molly), Merritt Wilburn, Elias Wilburn, Tanner Hendon (Katie), Houston Hendon, McClain Hendon, great granddaughter Eleanor Sutcliffe, and great grandson Jude Sutcliffe. Funeral services will be held at McConnell Baptist Church in Hiawassee, GA on Friday, August 23, 2024. Visitation is at 1 pm, followed by the service at 2 pm, internment at Laurel Hills Memory Gardens, and then a reception at the McConnell Baptist Family Life Center.